There’s another casualty on network TV. CBS’ military drama, The Unit, has been cancelled after four seasons on the air.
The Unit revolves around an elite military unit and their civilian loved ones. The series features the talents of Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Audrey Marie Anderson, Robert Patrick, Max Martini, Abby Brammell, Michael Irby, Scott Foley, Demore Barnes, Alyssa Shafer, Danielle Hanratty, Kavita Patil, and Rebecca Pidgeon.
Created by acclaimed director and writer David Mamet, the series debuted in mid-season 2006. An average audience of 15.5 million viewers ensured a second season for the drama but year two didn’t go as well, attracting 11.1 million viewers. The show has continued to decline in the ensuing years and season four has averaged an audience of 9.67 million. Though the overall viewership isn’t too low, the series does skew older. The average age of The Unit’s viewership is about 55.
The series has been “on the bubble” for awhile and many took it as a bad sign when showrunner Shawn Ryan signed on to helm FOX’s Lie to Me. Ryan however maintained that he would continue on both shows if The Unit was renewed. He’d previously performed double duty while working concurrently on The Unit and The Shield.
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Like most of the networks’ actions these days, the decision to renew or cancel came down to finances. CBS had asked for all of its shows to reduce their budgets. The Unit is actually already cheaper to produce than it looks. Shot primarily in Southern California, it costs less than $3 million per episode to produce. That’s about half as expensive as other primetime dramas.
A couple weeks ago, Haysbert told the LA Times that he was unsure if he wanted the show to come back if it meant making too many creative and salary concessions. He said, “There are a number of factors that go into whether I want it back or not. It’s been a great ride and, if I don’t work with these people again, I’ll certainly play golf with them.”
In an age when the networks and studios have to watch every dollar, they’ve all been favoring renewing shows that are created by sister or in-house production companies. Since 20th Century Fox TV produces the show, the network wouldn’t benefit if the show went into syndication.
Prior to the cancellation news, Gary Newman, chairman of The Unit’s studio, said, “For the CBS viewer, this show is unique. The audience may not be huge, but there’s going to be enormous disappointment if it goes off and it’s replaced with one more procedural or forensics show.”
Image courtesy CBS.
Pure disappointment. I swear I would throw eggs and tomatoes at the headquarter if I’m anywhere near…Still got about a month for anything good to happen or in other words have some good networks consider picking it up. Still got a good month to see if any miracle happen.
I agree The Unit was the best show on TV. If CBS wouldn’t have put it in a 10pm time slot on Sundays maybe more people would have stayed up to watch it. As it was more people watched it online. I sure hope another network picks it up. It ‘s much better than the other shows out there. How many more CSI’s do we need?
Put it on FX. Fox produces the show anyway. There would be no restrictions there and I think it would fit well.
One of the best shows on CBS. Compared to some of those so called reality shows,which I call GARBAGE television,THE UNIT ,IS GREAT! It was not so much the action part ,that was good, the mystery and reason behind thier work. Maybe someone else will pick it up.
Loved that show! Dayum.
Man! What a sham! It is obvious that CBS is spiraling deeper and deeper into the reality show vortex. You have a show that delivers consistent ratings despite network honchos playing the shell game with the show’s time slot. This is a big mistake, especially considering that Dennis Haysbert remains an in-demand actor. No offense, but the people making these decisions absolutely suck.
I think part of the problem with viewers is that the show is on Sunday night and it is always getting pushed back for the hallmark hall offame movies, football pushes it out of its timeslot and frankly people aren’t going to stay up until midnight to watch it.
I am tired of getting involved in watching a good show like the unit that starts out good with allot of viewers then they have a season finale then make you wait a year to continue the series, do you seriously think people are just gonna sit around and stare at a blank screen till their show continues? I can asure you that many like myself would prefer to watch descent, interesting, action and mystery shows than these fabricated reality shows that litter our prime time shows. and I’m getting a little sick of these 20 different csi shows and… Read more »
Sad…I am very disappointed that this show is being cancelled. It is one of the few shows that I make sure I see every single week that it is on. Instead of dropping The Unit, get rid of CSI which has been stale to say the least this past year. This is a great action/drama tv show that my husband will actually watch with me. I really think this is a huge mistake and if CBS is dumb enough to cancel it I hope another network or cable station will be smart enough to pick it up.
Please don’t cancel the Unit CBS!!!!! This is not only one of the best shows on TV, but it is now better then CSI Vegas because since Grissom left that show has turned to crap. If CBS would just give it a better time slot it would be a huge success. Don’t let a great show go because you gave it a terrible time slot with hardly any advertising.
The Unit is one of those unique (for real) show that CBS let slip away. It’s like another for real show (Jericho) that CBS would move from one night to another and did not let the fan base to built up. Tuesday night was the best night, even if you’re a American Idol fan you could watch your favorite Idol and then switched back to the Unit. Tuesday night (for real) night would be Jericho at 9pm and the Unit at 10. Also, Wednesday morning at work all co-workers would talk about the Unit. Now that the Unit has been… Read more »
This just sucks! My whole family has enjoyed “The Unit” for the last couple of years. Please CBS, don’t cancel it!!!! I am soooooo sick of reality shows I could just vomit! If CBS does not renew it, I hope some other network has a brain and can see the potential that this show has. Just give it a shot with a better timeslot and some advertising and this would be as big of a hit as House or 24.
I am very disappointed that “The Unit” will not return. It was such a different show.
Not like the many police shows, hospital shows and reality shows that seem to be a dime a dozen. The cast was exceptional. Each character unique. I don’t watch a lot of TV, but this was one show that I never missed. And in case you are wondering, I am a woman, 65 years of age.
This is very disappointing to hear my favorite show is cancelled. Even though it could be tough to know when The Unit would be on with football or golf pushing it back, I never missed it. I’m so tired and reality and talent shoes, and I’m afraid The Unit will be replaced by CSI:Peoria.
The Unit is a very realistic show; and it means a lot to all of us former and current military members, Please dont replace it with some dumb ex crack head who is fixing to get a gender change wanting to find out if they can survive selling leaves on atop a skyscraper because they are kin to somebody half famous ok!?